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The Godfather of Heathrow revealed on film

Dennis Stone celebrates 70 years at Heathrow

Heathrow has today released an exclusive interview with Dennis Stone, the airport’s longest serving photographer, recounting a career that has spanned seven decades. As Heathrow also celebrates its 70th anniversary, it has been the ever-present Dennis who has captured many of the airport’s historic moments as well as the travels of some of the world’s greatest stars including Frank Sinatra, Goldie Hawn, Princess Diana and the Beatles.

84-year-old Dennis started working at Heathrow as a messenger boy aged 14 and has since been witness to Heathrow’s own journey over the last 70 years dedicatedly documenting the journeys of those flying through the airport each year. His pictures have been regularly featured in the national newspapers and he also appeared in the BBC television series Airport, with the early programmes being written around his activities as the ‘godfather’ of celebrity photography.

Underlining Dennis's unfailing professionalism and charm, many actors and musicians count the veteran photographer as a friend, with Joan Collins including Dennis on her Christmas card list.

Dennis Stone said: ‘Anyone who is anyone travels through Heathrow. I feel very fortunate to have be part of Heathrow for the past 70 years carrying out a job I see less as work and more as a passion. I have made many good friends here and been privy to a world that has allowed me to capture unique moments and events.’

John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow’s CEO said: ‘Over the last 70 years, Dennis has witnessed phenomenal advances in aviation while photographing Heathrow's transformation from a small airfield to the UK’s hub airport. Dennis is a fantastic ambassador for the airport and we at Heathrow are extremely proud to count him as part of our family.’

The Godfather of Heathrow has long been a much loved member of the airport community - in 2010 the airport presented Dennis Stone with the 'Key to Heathrow' as a sign of the community’s gratitude for Dennis' work and a celebration of his loyal tenure.

Notes to editors:In honour of Heathrow’s 70th anniversary, Qantas is offering 70 people the chance to win ‘The Ultimate Trip’: a five-night stay in Sydney, Australia, travelling from Heathrow on the award-winning Qantas A380. Travellers are invited to share their favourite Heathrow memory – from amusing anecdotes to heart-warming tales – to be in with a chance to win one of 35 pairs of tickets available*. Entrants can upload their story at stories.heathrow.com.

*Terms and conditions apply. Please visit stories.heathrow.com for further details.

About HeathrowHeathrow is the UK’s hub airport, home to more than 80 airlines connecting to more than 180 destinations. Every year Heathrow welcomes over 70 million passengers with a commitment to ‘making every journey better’. Following an investment of more than £11 billion over the past 10 years, passengers have voted Heathrow the ‘Best Airport in Western Europe’ two years in a row, ‘Best Airport Terminal’ for the Terminal 5 five years in a row and ‘Best Airport for Shopping’ seven years in a row.

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